Informational Book: Our Kingdom: Our Lives with Animals

The book One Kingdom: Our Lives with Animals is a nonfiction science book and it would be appropriate for students in grades 6-10 (depending on reading level). This is a great book for students who love animals. It is also a great book to introduce a lesson on animals. The book could also be used in a debate. The students could debate whether or not animals should be kept in zoos. Noyes discusses myth, legend, history, and some science in this book. However the story is more about the bond humans and animals share. The book includes amazing close-up, black-and-white photos of the animals. The pictures really are beautiful and they draw you in. The pictures could be used to discuss the art of photography as well. Also the book includes interesting facts and stories about animals, zoos, and how humans have related to animals over time. The author devotes a significant discussion to conservation and the ethics of keeping animals in captivity, including a lengthy debate about zoos. As a young adult I loved reading books about animals because I lived on a farm growing up and I really loved working with animals. As I read this book it really brought me back to when I was a kid.